Navigating human-sloth bear encounters and attacks in Nepal's unprotected forests

Human-sloth bear conflict is common throughout most areas where sloth bears co-occur with humans. Altercations are more prevalent in multi-use forest landscapes outside protected areas (PAs). Sloth bears are among the key species linked to human-wildlife conflicts in Nepal's southern region, but comprehensive information to guide safety and mitigation efforts remain scarce. We collected questionnaire-based interview data on sloth bear encounters and attacks, available from 1990–2021, around the Trijuga forest, an important sloth bear habitat outside Nepal's PAs. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and regression analysis. Within this time period, 66 human-sloth bear encounters involving 69 human individuals were recorded, with an annual average of 2.06 (SD = 1.48) encounters and 1.75 (SD = 1.34) attacks. Encounters primarily involved working-age men (25–55 years old), whose primary occupation was farming and who frequented the forest regularly. They typically occurred between 0900 and 1500, inside forests, and in habitats with poor land cover visibility. Fifty-six encounters resulted in attacks by bears that injured 59 people, with a fatality rate of 8.47%. Victims of bear attacks frequently had serious injuries, especially to the head and neck areas of the body. Serious injuries were more likely to occur to lone individuals than to people who were in groups of two or more. We suggest the identification of conflict-risk habitats through a participatory mapping approach and outreach programs for local communities to enhance effective human-sloth bear conflict management in Nepal’s unprotected forests.